Jemma Rider
Songster
They love nails (especially black polish I've noticed), my eight week old chick Ginger always goes for my eyes, if she's ever near my face I make sure to close the eye closest to her. I've also experienced them pecking st my teeth like someone else mentioned, that was interesting.
Just yesterday, one of my family members left a piece of styrofoam in the yard and I walked out just as my rooster picked it up and called the girls for a treat. They were on the other side of the yard so I had to sprint down the stairs (and almost fall on my face) and across the yard yelling "NO BAD BOY, USE YOUR BRAIN, THAT'S NOT FOOD!" I barely made it before a hen swallowed it, then I had to chase her all over because lord knows that specific hen won't drop a single morsel of food if it's to save her life.
Earlier this week I was working with my dad on expanding the run and adding a cover, and my rooster jumped up onto the saw table and knocked over a box of staples for his hens to enjoy, I stopped them of course, and then rooster got a very stern talking to on why birdies shouldn't eat sharp pieces of metal.
My absolute favorite instance (it was miserable at the time) was back when my chicks had just arrived in the mail. This was my first experience with chicks and after almost two years of research and buying every book I could find, I was ready and I was determined to raise the happiest, healthiest chicks possible. I had done it all, and a few hours before they arrived I created a panicked thread about last minute thoughts and worries I had.
Then they arrived, everybody was healthy and excited, they ate and drank as soon as I showed them water, and then my personal horror story began. Darla, a polish chick, walked over to the heating pad, and ate a wad of fuzz that I had completely glanced over. Instantly I took to Google, looking for how I would treat an impacted crop on a day old chick. I felt myself die a little inside thinking I had killed a chick before they had even been with me for an hour. I left multiple panicked threads, eventually a very helpful person shared these words of wisdom with me, "Get a grip or get a puppy." (Those words have now become a daily quote and whenever I'm freaking out about something my brother yells it out at the top of his lungs, it makes me laugh).
Darla ended up being fine and it was not the last inedible she has eaten so far in her right week life.
There have been many other instances despite my best efforts to teach the birds what food is and clear their surroundings of tasty looking inedible scraps.
Just yesterday, one of my family members left a piece of styrofoam in the yard and I walked out just as my rooster picked it up and called the girls for a treat. They were on the other side of the yard so I had to sprint down the stairs (and almost fall on my face) and across the yard yelling "NO BAD BOY, USE YOUR BRAIN, THAT'S NOT FOOD!" I barely made it before a hen swallowed it, then I had to chase her all over because lord knows that specific hen won't drop a single morsel of food if it's to save her life.
Earlier this week I was working with my dad on expanding the run and adding a cover, and my rooster jumped up onto the saw table and knocked over a box of staples for his hens to enjoy, I stopped them of course, and then rooster got a very stern talking to on why birdies shouldn't eat sharp pieces of metal.
My absolute favorite instance (it was miserable at the time) was back when my chicks had just arrived in the mail. This was my first experience with chicks and after almost two years of research and buying every book I could find, I was ready and I was determined to raise the happiest, healthiest chicks possible. I had done it all, and a few hours before they arrived I created a panicked thread about last minute thoughts and worries I had.
Then they arrived, everybody was healthy and excited, they ate and drank as soon as I showed them water, and then my personal horror story began. Darla, a polish chick, walked over to the heating pad, and ate a wad of fuzz that I had completely glanced over. Instantly I took to Google, looking for how I would treat an impacted crop on a day old chick. I felt myself die a little inside thinking I had killed a chick before they had even been with me for an hour. I left multiple panicked threads, eventually a very helpful person shared these words of wisdom with me, "Get a grip or get a puppy." (Those words have now become a daily quote and whenever I'm freaking out about something my brother yells it out at the top of his lungs, it makes me laugh).
Darla ended up being fine and it was not the last inedible she has eaten so far in her right week life.
There have been many other instances despite my best efforts to teach the birds what food is and clear their surroundings of tasty looking inedible scraps.
One time my sister and I were baking cookies and we looked out our window to see our hen raptor, (lived up to her name) running around with something in her beak, we didn't know what it was but all the chickens were chasing her. As soon as we figured out in was a dead MOUSE that the cat had killed she swallowed it whole almost like she had inhaled it!!
